A Message from our President

    The spring 2009 town soccer season has officially ended and in many ways it was a resounding success.  The highlight for me was tracking the progress of the U-12 Girls Team Minutemen as they marched their way through Essex County to ultimate victory in the annual post season Pingree Tournament held during the soggy Father’s Day weekend of June 19-June 21.  Yes, that’s right, Marblehead is the proud sponsor of the U-12 Division 3 County Champions and we couldn’t be any happier (please see picture of the champs to the right).

    We believe this team’s success was no mere accident or coincidence.  It all started at the top with the coaches.  When the roster for this team was finalized, a smile crept across my face, thinking of the three coaches, Jim Liacos, Kristan Marden, and Todd Huber.  Although they didn’t know each other before the season, I knew each of them and couldn’t wait for them to coach together.  I didn’t know how many games the team would win, but I knew the players would have a great time no matter what.  Of course, the players deserve credit & during the tournament weekend, they won 3 straight games, defeating two teams that hadn’t lost a game all season and finished by defeating the top-seeded Winthrop squad 1-0 on Father’s Day. 

    We are all very proud of the Minutemen for what they accomplished this season, and all of the 24 travel teams from Marblehead this spring. In all, 17 Marblehead Teams were eligible for post season play, but only the Minutemen made it though to the Big Dance (although the U-16 G’s Mermaids, U-14 G’s Thunder and U-14 G’s Hurricanes came very close).

    Speaking of coaching, this team’s success emphasizes that our organization is committed to enhancing and improving the quality of our coaching ranks all through our system, from grades 2 through 8.  As the fall season approaches we will actively sponsor as many coaching clinics through Mass Youth Soccer as the number of participants (both in-town and throughout the County) will allow for.  The first one is scheduled for this coming September 23 at the Tower School gym from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  MYSA will re-imburse any coach from our town who participates in this course and receives a certificate of completion.  The handouts alone are worth the price of admission and remain valuable resources throughout the years.  Please contact John M, our director of technical development for more information.

    The fall season is a very special time at MYSA as the emphasis is almost exclusively on our in-town & intramural programs.  While there are a limited number of travel teams (6 as opposed to 24 in the spring), there are almost seven times that number of in-town teams.  Organized soccer games and clinics can be found all over town almost every weekend through early November on numerous different playing fields throughout town.  So whether you’re at Tower School on Saturday mornings, Hopkins field, Middle Village and Lower Village almost all day on Saturday, Lower Village on Sunday afternoons and of course, Green Street on Friday nights under the lights, you will find hundreds of local kids chasing an orb in pursuit of the greatest game on earth. 
 
Keep a ball on your foot. Often. 
 

-Kevin.

MYSA's President is Kevin McCarthy,

To contact Kevin click here.